Museum Educator, Community Engagement

National Museum of Wildlife Art; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Smart Museum of Art in Chicago seeks a Museum Educator, Community Engagement to lead public tours and manage internship and student guide programs. You will collaborate with K-12 education and Family Programs to develop gallery experiences and family-friendly offerings.

The role reports to the Director of the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Head of Education, supervising staff and interns while advancing experiential, inquiry-based learning across campus.

Qualifications

• College or university degree required.
• 2–5 years of related experience in museum education or equivalent.
• Strong commitment to student-centered learning and experiential education.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads public tours for community groups and the general public.
• Manages internship and Student Gallery Guide programs; recruits and mentors student guides.
• Supports K-12 tours and K-12 public programs as needed.
• Creates training curricula and tour frameworks based on inquiry-based learning.

Skills

Public tours

Community engagement

Mentorship

Facilitation

Coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Advanced degree in museum education or related field

Job description

About the Department

As the fine arts museum of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art is a site for rigorous inquiry and exchange that encourages the examination of complex issues through the lens of art objects and artistic practice. Through strong scholarly and community collaborations and a welcoming approach to its exhibitions, collections, publications, research and teaching, and public programs, the Smart Museum plays a dynamic role in expanding artistic canons, rethinking received histories, introducing new perspectives, and engaging diverse communities—locally, nationally, and internationally.

Job Summary

The Museum Educator, Community Engagement is a key member of the Museum’s education team, who will develop, lead, and manage all community tours for the Museum. As its spearhead, this role will manage the Museum’s internship program and new student gallery guide program. In addition, they will be a close collaborator with the Museum Educator, K-12, working with them to develop the K-12 component for the gallery guide program and providing support for K-12 tours and family programs as needed. Reporting to the Director of the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Head of Education, this position is responsible for managing these two student-focused programs, integrating students into the tour offerings of the museum, maintaining effective workflows and assessment practices, and supervising student employees and interns. They will be an expert in in-gallery learning and be able to mentor and support student training.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads public tours for community groups and the general public in collaboration with student gallery guide program.
• Provides support for K-12 tours when needed.
• Provides support for K-12 Public Programs when needed.
• Develops and serves as administrative lead and manager of the Student Gallery Guide Program, which will train UChicago students to support tours and programs for community/public groups and K-12.
• Recruits, trains, supervises, evaluates, and mentors student gallery guides.
• Creates training curricula, facilitation strategies, and tour frameworks grounded in inquiry-based learning and object-centered teaching for student guides to support and lead community and public tours.
• Partners with the Museum Educator, K-12 and Family Programs to ensure students are well equipped to support K-12 school tours.
• Oversees scheduling and management systems for student guides supporting tours, class visits, public programs, and special events.
• Acts as the administrative lead and manager of the Smart's undergraduate internship program, including recruitment, onboarding, training, supervision, evaluation, and professional development.
• Develops and implements meaningful experiential learning opportunities that connect students to museum practice, arts leadership, and interdisciplinary inquiry.
• Collaborates with departments across the Museum to identify and support internship projects aligned with institutional priorities.
• Creates structures for reflection, mentorship, cohort-building, and professional skill development.
• Builds partnerships with academic departments, career services, and campus offices to increase awareness of student opportunities at the Museum.
• Maintains current knowledge of best practices in experiential learning, museum education, and student development.
• Partners with Registration to support the Art to Live With student acquisition program.
• Represents the Smart Museum at campus events, orientations, student fairs, and other University initiatives.
• Maintains program budgets, records, schedules, and project documentation.
• Conducts assessment and evaluation of student engagement initiatives and prepares reports on outcomes and impact.
• Collaborates with Museum staff to develop promotional and interpretive content related to student guides program and internship programs.
• Assists with grant reporting, fundraising materials, and institutional storytelling related to student engagement.
• Uses moderate/solid understanding and experience to administer the delivery of services to program participants and/or beneficiaries.
• Analyzes program budgets and recommends or makes budgetary recommendations.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Advanced degree in museum education, art history, higher education administration, public humanities, or a related field.
• Experience: Background working in a museum, university museum, arts organization, or higher education setting.
• Experience: Designing experiential learning or leadership development programs.
• Experience: Background working directly with college students and student organizations.
• Experience: Familiar with assessing educational outcomes and program impact.
• Preferred Competencies: Demonstrated commitment to student-centered learning and experiential education.
• Preferred Competencies: Strong ability to build relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Preferred Competencies: Excellent facilitation, mentorship, and coaching skills.
• Preferred Competencies: Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and fostering a workplace of belonging.
• Preferred Competencies: Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Preferred Competencies: Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Preferred Competencies: Work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.
• Preferred Competencies: Understanding of higher education environments and the role of museums in supporting student success.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3) (preferred)